Knitting machine



E. H. sTEERE KNITTING MACHINE Feb. 9, l1937.

'FiledFem 5, 1935 Sheets-Sheet l Slimme/14g E. H. STEERE KNITTING MACHINE Fiied Feb. 5. 1955 8 sheets-sheet z Feb. 9, 1937'.`

Feb. 9, 1937. E. H. STL-:ERE 2970,45@ KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5. 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 NlllllllllllllllIIIIIIIHUI so @En v 3mm Feb. 9, 1937. E. H. sTEl-:RE

KNI-TTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 GMW l' Feb. 9, N332 E. HSTEERE KNITTING MACHINE Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 5, 1935 mmm o \o No Feb. 9, 1937. E H- STEERE 2,070,458

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 9, 19317a E. H. sTEERE 2,0709458 KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Feb. 9, i937. E. H. sTEERE 2,070,458

` KNITTING MACHiNE Filed Feb. 5, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Parental ret. a, ias? starts KNITTHNG MACMNE Edward lli. Steeravlsheboro, N. C., assigner oi one-halt` to Chisolm C. ranford, Asheboro,

Application February 5, 1935, Serial No. 5,122

4 Claims.

sometimes occurs as the result of non-uniformity.

in the yarn Where a single yarn is knit.

In addition to mechanism for eiecting the additional yarn feed, the invention includes means for effecting tuck stitching at the main knitting station, the right hand stitch cam for this purpose being Ymounted independently of the left hand stitch cam and being independently movable out of the range of the needle butts.

The invention also includes a method a-nd a fabric.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention I have shown it in the .accompanying drawings vas applied to the well known Scott and Williams Model K machine, designed for knitting turned welt stockings. I shall give herein only a general description of the basic machine in view of the fact that those skilled in the art are fully familiar therewith. Reference may also be had to Scott and Williams Patents No. 1,148,055, July 27, 1915 and No, 1,282,958, October 29, 1918. Also a discusstion of the Model K machine will be found in American Knitting Machines by Metcalf, Textile American Publishing Company, Bos- It is pointed out that the invention is by no means confined in application to this particular machine. since it may be used in conjunction with knitting machines of other types.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is an elevation. of the head of the said Model K machine with the present invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the head of Figure l with certain super-structure removed in order to reveal underlying devices.

Figure 3 is a section substantially on line 3 3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a section 'substantially on line 4 2 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the sinker cam as modified b-y the present invention.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the transfer cap and associated devices.

a Figure '7 is an elevation of the transfer cap and associated devices as seen from the right of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section substantially on line 8-8 55 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a section substantially on line 9-9 of Figure 5.

Figure l0 is a view taken substantially on line ifi-l0 of Figure 2 or line l-Hl of Figure 4.

Figure l1 is a plan view, partly broken away, 5 of an auxiliary needle cam mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

Figure l2 is a View similar to Figure ll with the cams proper removed in order to disclose their supporting means. 10

Figure 13 is a developed view of the needle cam cylinder and associated cams including those added by the present invention.

Figure 14 is an elevation of the knitting head with another modified form of the invention ap- 15 plied thereto.

Figure l5 is a section substantially online I5--i5 of Figure 14, with parts omitted.

Figure 16 is a plan view of the head as in Figure 14, with parts omitted. 20

Figure 17 shows in elevation a pair of drum cam follower levers which appear also in Figure 14.

Figure 18 is an elevation of a drum cam designed for cooperation with the follower levers of 25 Figure 17, and

Figure 19 is a fragmentary view, greatly enlarged, of a fabric produced in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 30 2U designates a circular fixed bed plate which rotatably supports a bevel gear 2l, Figure 4, on a vertical axis, the gear having a central opening Whose margins are surmounted by an upwardly extending cylindrical sleeve 22 integral with the 35 gear. Needles 23 are slidable in vertical grooves of a needle cylinder 24 which is keyed to sleeve 22. The needles may have long, short, and intermediate butts, but in any event there is at least a group of needles with butts shorter than those 40 of another group. For a purpose to be hereinafter described, there are also provided two needles with extra short butts in the group of shorter butt needles.

The needle cylinder carries at its upper end a sinker ring 25 upon which floats a sinker cam ring 26, the latter ring being held down on the former by means of clips as at 21, Figure l. Ring 26 carries a pair of spaced lugs 28 and 29 in which are mounted adjustable abutment screws 30 and 50 3l which coact with an upright post 32 mounted on the bed plate. During circular knitting, abutment 30 engages the post, while during reciprocation of the needle cylinder abutments 3l) and 3| will alternately strike the post, there being suicient friction between the rings and 2@ so that the former tends to carry the latter with it.

A standard 33 has pivoted thereto a latch guard ring 3&3, the latter having a lug 35 opposite its pivot point normally resting on the top of post S2. A bracket 3S mounted on ring 3d rotatably supports a vertical shaft 3l! coaxial with the needle cylinder, shaft 3i carrying at its lower end the transfer dial 38. Drive for shaft di is derived -from a parallel shaft 3g journaled adjacent the edge of plate 2@ and connected to shaft 3i through a horizontal shaft it and bevel gearing including the gears di and Q2, Figure 1. The transfer dial is driven at the same speed as the needle cylinder and sinker ring.

Mounted on a pin d3 supported in a yoke d3' in connection with ring 3d, are a number of yarn feeding fingers dd. While the usual equipment of the machine includes ve of these ngers, i. have shown only four in Figure 2, one having been removed in order that its associated push rod d5, Figure i, may he utilized for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The pattern drum is shown at di? and the pattern chain, which controls the racking of the drum in the well known manner, at di?. The chain sprocket is shown at dii', and drum driving gears at dia, lib and dlic.

The needle cam cylinder QQ, Figures 4 and 13, is oi usual design except that just beyond the cam rise tid it is provided with a top recess iii. Associated with the needle cylinder cam are the right and left hand stitch cams 52 and t3, and reference numerals 5ft and 5d designate the uppicks. Upper and lower central cams are shown at 5t and 5l, an anti-run-back cam at 5d, and

dividing cam portions at te. The jacks are designated at iid, the jack cam at tti', a group of short butt needles at Si and of long butt needles at iii, Figure 13, reference numerals dit and @d designating two needles with butts shorter than the butts of the short butt needles and spaced a nurnber of needles apart in. the short'butt group.

Ordinarily the stitch cams are mounted on a i semi-cylindrical collar which is slidable toward and away from the needle cylinder to bring the stitch cams into and out of action. According to the present invention, each of the stitch cams is mounted on a quarter cylindrical segment and that which supports the left hand cam may be fixed. The segment which supports the right hand stitch cam is slidable on the bed plate and has a bottom key engaged in a radial slot iid in the bed plate, Figure 3, and an outer bottom flange 65', provided with a slot el, Figure 3, in which is engaged a guide screw S8. By mechanism to be hereinafter described, the segment $5 may be moved outwardly so that the right hand stitch cam will not aiect the course of the jackless needles and the same will pass Without dofng the stitch, thereby making tuck stitches.

According to the present invention two auxiliary knitting stations are provided, so that three yarns are knit in for each revolution of the needle cylinder. At each auxiliary station there is provided a lifting and a lowering cam, the latter being a stitch cam, and auxiliary sinker cams. Yarn feeding means is provided at each station and a single clamp and cutter device is provided for the two auxiliary stations.

While the number of auxiliary stations may be varied, I have found that the most satisfactory results may be obtained with two, as herein disclosed. With only one, the decrease in striping eiect due to variation or the yarn is not adequate geraete I and with more than two auxiliary stations the courses in an article such as a stocking may take too steep a spiral so that the fabric is apt to pull on a basis. With a main and two auxiliary stations, the knitting is, of course, three times as fast as with a single main station and any striping eiect is successfully avoided.

The gap closer 69 has a horizontal flange over which is engaged the horizontal arm of a clip ld, Figure 4, the clip having a vertical arm secured by means of a screw to the latch guard ring 3d, the horizontal arm serving to hold down lthe gap closer. Clip il@ serves as a convenient means for the support of a vertical stud ii longitudinally of which is slidable an arcuate bar l2. An arm i3 is ixed in outwardly projecting relation on top of bar i2 and stud ii passes through this arm as well as through the bar, so that an extended bearing surface is provided. An outwardly projecting lug 'Mi on bar l2 is apertured to receive an upright stud i5 whose lower end is received in a bore in the latch guard ring. Stud i5 has a stop collar l@ adjustable thereon and a tension spring il surrounds stud 'di with its lower end anchored to arm 'i3 and its upper end secured to the top portion of the stud. The spring tends to lift arm i3 and bar lit, this tendency being limitable by the stop collar i6.

On its inner arcuate surface bar i12 has secured thereto, by means or" screws i8 and is, a pair of vertically extending yarn feeding fingers Bil and Si which project considerably below the bar. The fingers t@ and Si seat in vertical grooves in bar l2 and have longitudinally extending slots Sta and tia through which the attaching screws are passed. By reason of the slots, the fingers may be adjusted vertically relative to bar 'i2 so that tho yarns :c and y engaged in eyes @b and Bib in their lower ends, Figure 10, may be moved between accurate ieeding and non-feeding positions vas the result of vertical adjustment or bar l2.

Spring li acts to lift the yarn above the needles so that it will not be 'caught by the latter.

Mounted on the right hand end of pin 53, Figure 2, is a barrel 32 which carries an arm 83 curved above the transfer cap in a manner to avoid interference with the other mechanisms and to bring its end 86 above bar i2 and adjacent arm iii. Barrel 32 has also fixed thereto an oppositely extending arm S5 curved to bring its extremity 86 above a vertically reciprocable bar t?, whose upper end is guided in a slot in a clip 33 secured to the standard 33. The push rod l5 is provided with a substantiallly vertically extending narrow recess 89 in its outer edge which receives the lower end of bar 871 and the push rod is engageable by cams @il and 9i lying in the same vertical plane on drum di. When push rod d5 is lifted by one of these cams, bar 87 participates in its movement and thus rotates barrel 82 in a clockwise direction, as in Figure 2, depressing arm limited by push rod i5 and arm 33 in turn ordinarily limiting the effect of spring W.

The extra yarns in the present embodiment are'` thrown in only when plain circular knitting is to' be done and herein are intended to be fed when knitting the leg and foot of the stocking. Cam 9d aorone is arranged on drum 41 so as to insure the feeding of the extra yarns while the legis being knit and cam 9| is arranged to control the extra yarns in knitting the foot.

Mounted on the transfer cap are the usual spring guide finger 92, the clamp 93, and the cutter 94, these being at the main knitting station. I have modified the usual operating lever 95 for the clamp and cutter by forking it at its free end to provide the two arms` 96 and 91, the arm 96 being connected by means of an operating link with the clamp and cutter 93, 94 and the arm 91 being connected by means of an operating link 98 with a clamp and cutter for the yarns fed by the fingers 80 and 8|.

Referring particularly to Figures `6 and 7, a post 99 has its lower end xed in the fixed top piate of the transfer cap 38' and its upper end received in an aperture in bracket 36, the post being fixed against turning. Adjacent the post a cutter blade is fixed on the top plate' and carries a cooperating blade I0| pivoted thereto on a screw |00'. Blade IOI has a tail portion which is bent and pierced to receive the lower horizontally bent end of link 98. The upper end of link 98 is threaded in a small block 98a., Figure 2, pivoted to arm 91 by means of a screw 98h.

0A clamp |02 has a sleeve portion I03 slidable on post 99 and urged downwardly by a compression spring |84 interposed between the sleeve portion and bracket 36. Post 99 has a longitudinal groove in which is engaged the inner end of a screw fixed in collar portion |03 so that the clamp is held against turning about the axis of the post. The clamp carries a rigid pin |06 which projects above blade I8I and engages the upper edge thereof. Lever 95 is spring-influenced in such a manner that downward pressure is exerted on link 98 so that the cutter blades are normally closed and the foot of the clamp engages the top of the transfer cap. In Figure 7 the blades are shown as open and the clamp as lifted. A spring yarn guide clip |01 is positioned on the opposite side of clamp |02 from the cutter, the

top plate of the transfer cap being cut away and beveled as at |08 and the sub-plate portion being beveled as at |09 so as not to obstruct the yarn. As here shown, the fixed blade |00 is at one end of an angle strip whose other end IIO is secured against a xedhub III.

A push rod |I2, Figure l, has its upper end disposed beneath the tail portion ||3 of lever 95, the latter being pivoted on a pin 95' mounted above ring 34. the same circle on the drum, but axially displaced as regards cams 90 and 9|, act to lift 'push rod I I2 to actuate the clamps and cutters, cutting and clamping taking place as the push rod rides olf of the cams. The new clamp and cutter as herein provided is operatively spaced beyond fingers 80 and 8| and acts on both of the yarns fed thereby. A

While both sets of clamps and cutters are operated each time lever 95 is swung, this is without any disadvantage. 'Ihe drum is, of course, provided with a suitable cam arrangement to take care of the main station, cams I I4 and I5 being for the particular purpose of actuating the new clamp and cutter for the extra yarns at the end of plain knitting in the leg and foot. knitting of a high splice heel, for example, both sets of clamps and cutters will be operated, but the set herein added will be without effect if the extra yarns have been thrown out at the start Cams II4 and |I5 arranged in In the I of the high splice heel. They will be held under clip |01.

'I'he sinker cam ring 26, see Figures 4, 5, 8 and 9, has a pair of openings ||6 and II1 formed in its top wall, these openings being behind and slightly beyond the yarn feeding fingers 80 and 8| when the ring is in the position shown in Figure 2, that is, with abutment 30 against post 32. The leading edges of these openings are slightly within the outer contour of the inner guide rib I I8 of the cam ring, each opening having a straight inner edge and an arcuate outer edge so as to be of segmental shape, as particularly shown in Figure 5. Cams II9 and |20 of segmental cross section are adapted to be projected downwardly in the openings II6 and ||1 into the groove I2I followed by the butts |22 of the sinkers or web holders |23 for the purpose of moving the sinkers outwardly. To provide proper clearance the outer wall of groove I2I is recessed at v|24 and |25, the inner wall of rib ||8 being correspondingly relieved at |26 and |21. Between openings IIS and II1 a filler piece |28 is radially grooved to receive a slide |29 whose inner end is beveled as shown.

Cams |I9 and |20 have expanded top portions II9' and |20 with flat upper surfaces which lie against the ends of a flat spring strip |30 and are secured thereagainst by means of screws I3I passed through the strip and through plates |32 and |33 on the top of the strip. Centrally, strip to a block |34 from which rises a cylindrical body |35, Figure 9. Strip |30, block |34 and body |35 are bored to provide a cylindrical cavity |36, closed at its upper end, in which is received a vertical post |31 fixed to the cam ring 26. The top of the post is bored and receives a compression spring |38 which bears against the top of body |35 and thus acts to lift cams I I9 and |20. The body |35 lies immediately below an adjustable abutment |39 when the cam ring is in the position shown in Figure 2, the abutment |39 being mounted on arm 13 of the yarn feeding mechanism.

An upwardly extending arm |40 is secured to the cam ring radially outwardly of post |31 by |30, which is arcuate in plan, Figure 2, is secured means of a screw I4I and at its upper end carries recess |46 and with a radial aperture in which is` engaged a tubular member |41, the latter having an abutment shoulder at its inner end to hold it against outward movement. A screw |48 is threaded into the outer end of member |41 and is locked in adjusted position by means of a nut |49 threaded thereon. A plunger I 50 in the inner end of member |41 is held against slide |29 by means of a compression spring |5I interposed between the slide and the inner end of screw |48.

With cams I I9 and |20 in their uppermost position, they are out of the range of the sinker butts so that the sinkers follow substantially their ordii2@ will move further downwardly asspring it@ straightens out and will catch the short butts as they next come around so that as longpas the cams remain lowered all of the sinkers will be affected thereby. Slide i2@ serves to return the sinkers to their innermost position and its pressure may be suitably adjusted by adjustment of the screw M8. The cams are always within openings l i6 and i il to be properlypositioned thereby.

In Figure 2 reference numeral i532 designates a removable portion in the sinker ring top through which sinkers may be inserted. Opening lid is partially formed in portion 652 in the spacing arrangement shown.

With the auxiliary yarn feeding mechanism out of operation, body i3d may freely move beneath abutment i3d as when the needle cylinder is reciprocated. It is always directly under abutment i3d during circular knitting and consequently when the yarn feeding mechanism is lowered, abutment H39 engages body itt to lower the latter and therewith cams i i@ and 52d, as in Figure Il. This lowering is affected, as above stated, when the short butt sinkers are beneath the cams. The lower ends of the cams strike the tops of the butts, causing the ends of spring i3@ to flex upwardly, the spring straightening out and lowering the cams sufficiently to act on the short butt sinkers as soon as the irst long butt sinkers have been cammed outwardly.

In order that the yarn fed by the auxiliary fingers 2li and di may be knit, 'l provide knitting cam mechanisms beneath the fingers respectively, these cam mechanisms being radially movable relative to the needle cylinder and across the line of the needle butts in the cut-out or recess di, Figure 13. Since the cam mechanisms at each of the auxiliary stations are substantially identical, a specic description of one will sumce. The two mechanisms are designated generally at 553 and ld, Figures 1, 2 and 3. Details of mechanism ii are shown in Figures 4, l1 and 12 to which reference will now be made.

Reference numeral it designates a block secured by means of screws i5@ to a plate 655', Figures 2 and 4, which latter is in turn secured to the bed plate 20 adjacent the slope 5i of the cam cylinder by means of screws itt. Block M55 has a top recess radial to the needle cylinder, and in this recess are slidable a pair of plungers i5? and 58, these plungers being of rectangular cross section between their ends with their top surfaces substantially ilush with the top surface of the block. The screws i5@ are passed through a cover plate i59 which holds the plungers in position in the block recess so that they are reciprocable in constant paths. Plunger i58 has at its outer end a downwardly projecting lug le@ whose inner face is engaged by a pin iti disposed in a bore in block i555 and urged outwardly by means of a compression spring it? so that plunger idd is constantly urged outwardly.

An angular clip it is secured to the outer end of plunger i 58 and has a vertical depending flange |63 which extends behind plunger i5?, .the outer end of the latter, as particularly shown in Figure 11, being spaced somewhat from flange itt'.

Plunger ie'i has a longitudinal bore in its outerend in which is disposed a pin i611! whose outer end bears against ilange E63' under the influence of a spring ist' so that plunger l5? is urged inwardly withl respect to plunger ite. A screw ide in the inner end ofv plunger iet, Figures 4 and 12,

has a head which overlies in part the forward end of plunger i5? to limit the action of the .s actrices spring pressed pin ltd. Screw itil is held in an adjusted position by means o' a'set screw itt.

Plungers itl and itt at their inner ends have heads id'i and it providing top inclined surfaces to which are secured cam plates itl and itt, respectively, by means of screws, the plates by reason of the inclined supporting surfaces being inclined relative to each other as most clearly shown in Figure 13. From the latter gure it will be noted that the cam itl?, which is a lifting cam, extends from substantially the rectilinear bottom of recess 5i to a point above the maximum level of the needle cani cylinder, and cam itt, which is a lowering or stitch cam, extends from above the upper end of cam iii, in spaced relation thereto, to a point spaced from the incline 5i'. The inner edges of cam plates itl and idd are somewhat rounded in order to follow the contour of the needle cylinder and vlhen closely approached to the latter act to lift and lower all of the needle butts as indicated in Figure i3. The lowering cams lie directly below the fingers @il and ill, respectively.

plunger i5? has a downwardly extending lug similar to lug it@ of plunger i and into the lower portion of the same is threaded an outwardly extending screw itil, the flange idd being recessed to provide clearance therefor. A pair of locked nuts illii on the shank of screw i6@ provide abutment means for a purpose to be heren inafter y described.

Cam mechanism 953 is exactly the same as mechanism ld except that due to its position adjacent the leading end of recess di, its lifting cam lli is somewhat shorter than cam itl. It is only necessary that the lower edge of this cam be below the crest 59' of the cam cylinder. 'I'he lowering cam H2 may be exactly the same as the lowering cam Mid. Mechanism 653 further comprises the angle clip i713, the same as clip 063, and the screw Het with abutment nuts W5, the same as screw it@ and abutment nuts i'll.

. Journalled in the bed plate 2t slightly in advance or the respective auxiliary knitting mechanisms are a pair of vertical shafts il@ and ill which have reduced portions passed through the plate and extending therebelow. Secured to the lower ends of the reduced shaft portions are collars llt and il@ which have xed thereto crank arms it@ and iti respectively, these extending under the bed plate in substantially parallel relation and having their ends connected by means of a link U92 through crank pins i233 and H86, Figures l and 3.

Shaft llt has secured to its upper end an arm idd which at its free end carries an adjustable abutment screw it which engages the vertical flange of clip H3. Similarly, shaft ill has secured to its upper end an arm I'i which at its other end carries the adjustable abutment screw B86 which bears against the flange w3' of clip Het.

A link it, Figure 1, has one end connected to crank arm i t@ through pin i 83 and its other end connected through a horizontally extending pivot pin itil with the upper arm iSi of a bell crank lever pivoted on a shaft |92, the other arm l93 of the lever having a foot |93 serving as a follower for cams idd and 95 on the drum lll. The

up on step i90 shafts il@ and lll are rocked in a counter-clockwise direction, Figure 2, abutments i8@ andl90 forcing inwardly the respective cam mechanisms, the lifting cams being moved through the springs as at |65. This initial movement of the cam mechanisms takes place as the short butt needles are passing in front thereof and brings the inner edges of the lifting and lowering cams adjacent the end of the butts, but not in engagement therewith. This initial adjustment of the cams is such, however, that when the long butt needles come around they are engaged by the lifting cams and at substantially thev same time as the long sinker butts are engaged by the leading sinker cam. At any time after the last of the group of short butt needles has passed cam ll, and before the leading short butt needle has again come around, the pattern drum l is advanced to bring the foot |99 on top of cam |99, as shown in Figure l, so that theconsequent further rocking of shafts W and ill brings the cam. mechanisms close to the needle cylinder, as indicated in Figure il, and holds them there, consequently actuating all needles.

Cams 90 and |99 are so disposed that the throwing in of the auxiliary feeds and sinker cams is properly timed relative to the throwing in of the auxiliary knitting cams so that knitting at the auxiliary stations will be properly initiated and so that all the said auxiliary mechanisms will be thrown out in properly timed relation, cam lit for the clamp and cutter mechanisms then coming into operation. As before explained, push rod l5 rides on cam 9|) during knitting of the stocking leg and foot |93 rides on cam |90 for the same period. Push rod 95 rides on cam 9| during the knitting of stocking foot and the follower |93' rides on cam |95 for the same period, the clamp and cutter cam then coming into play. A tension spring |96 fastened to lever arm |9| and suitably anchored at its other end to a iixed part holds the follower foot down and acts to return shafts |16 and |11 when the follower foot rides off of cam |94 or |95. Upon such return the auxiliary cam mechanisms are similarly moved to inoperative position by the springs as at |52, the plungers as at |58 carrying with them the plungers as at |51 by means of the abutments as at |85.

The movements of the pattern drum 4l are controlled from the pattern chain in the usual manner and since this control is well 4understood, it has been thought to be unnecessary to show the specific pattern chain design herein.

A bracket |9l secured to the edge of bed plate 20 has a horizontal plate portion slightly above the edge of the bed plate to the outer corners of which are pivoted a pair of arms |98 and |99 by means of screws |98' and |99', arm |98 being slightly bent so as to overlie arm |99. The free end of arm |98 lies in front of abutment nuts |10, and the free end of arm |99 lies in front of abutment nuts |75.

An arcuate lever 200 pivoted beneath the edge of bed plate 20 on a screw 20| has an up-turned end 202 which projects through an aperture 209 of the top plate of bracket |91 inwardly of arms |98 and |99 and at their point of crossing so as to engage both of the arms. The point of engagement of arms |98 and |99 by the end 202 of lever 200 is nearer their pivot points than their points of engagement with the abutment nuts so that outward movement of end 202, whereby the arms |98 and |99 are swung outwardly, is transmitted to the abutment nuts in increased ratio. The

abutment nuts engage the ends of the arms only when the auxiliary knitting cam mechanisms are Y in their extreme inwardly projected position, as in Figure 2, being otherwise outwardly spaced therefrom.

On the opposite side of the machine from the auxiliary knitting stations, a at elongated block 290 is secured to the top of the bed plate through longitudinally extending slots 205 by means of screws 208, so that the block is longitudinally .adjustable along the bed plate.` One end of the block 200 projects beyondA the edge of the bed plate and is provided with a rectangular vertical opening 207. At its underside the block 20d is provided with a longitudinally extending recess Zilli which runs from the opening 201| to the inner end of the block. In this recess is slidable a plunger 208 which at its inner end bears against a lever 209 pivoted at 2|0 to the bed plate. The free end of lever 209 abuts the horizontal ange 85 of the segment 55 which carries the right hand stitch cam. A hook 2li at the end of the flange 65 adjacent block 209 is engaged by one end of a tension spring 2|? whose other end is anchored to the block. This spring and a cornpression spring M9 acting on the other end of the segment, normally act to hold the segment in its extreme position of proximity to the needle cylinder with the stitch cam in operative position.

A vertically extending rod 2id, Figure 1, has a reduced upper end 2|5 engaged in opening 20'l of block 200. Beneath this reduced portion the rod 2||i has a cam surface 2|5, and below the latter a further cam surface 2|'|. When rod 2| Il is moved upwardly, the cam surface 2 i 5 is adapted to act on the end of plunger 208 to move the same inwardly and thereby throw lever 209 to move segment 85 outwardly against the action of springs 2|2 and 2|3 and thereby render the right hand stitch cam inoperative. The end of lever 20|) opposite its up-turned portion 202 lies in the path of cam surface 2 l when rod 2 ill is moved upwardly.

It will be noted that the cam surface 2|6 is spaced a substantial distance below the end of plunger 208, whereas the cam surface 2H is comparatively close to the cooperating end of lever 290. Consequently, a relatively small upward movement of lever 2M will cause surface 2li to engage and swing lever 200 in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby operating arms |98 and |99 to withdraw slightly the auxiliary lifting cams while the lowering cams are still held in ytheir position of extreme inward projection by arms |85 and |8'l. This slight movement of the lifting cams will cause them to miss the butts of the extra-short butt needles 83 and Gli so that these needles will not doi their stitches. Cam rise 50 does not raise the needles high enough to doff the stitches, and ordinarily the needles are not raised high enough for this purpose until they gol up on cam 52. Therefore, when cams and |61 are withdrawn far enough to let the two extra-short butt needles by, these needles do not doti their stitches, and, therefore, form tuck stitches at the two auxiliary stations. The stitches are then doed when these needles rise on cam 52.

If the rod 2M is projecting further upwardly, lever 200 will not only be swung, but plunger 208 `will be moved inwardly so that the right hand stitch cam will be thrown out. This occurs when it is desired to do tuck stitching as in the picot edge in the top of a stocking. Since inthis case arcuate block 269 which at its medial portion provides a radial groove in which is slidable the shank of a' plunger 260 which has an aperture 26| operatively receiving the up-turned end 202 of the arcuate lever 206. Beyond aperture 26| plunger 266 carries an arcuate bar 262 whose ends extend behind the abutment nuts |10 and |16. This latter arrangement is somewhat preferred by me to that shown for example in Figure 3, since it eliminates some of the friction developed in the use of the cross arms |98 and |99. The operative effect is otherwise the same.

The shafts |16 and |11 have secured to their lower ends arms 263 and 264 respectively, the.

latter being somewhat longer than the former. A link 265 connects the free end of arm 263 with the upper end of a lever arm 266 pivotal on shaft |92, and a link 261 connects the free end of arm 261|. with the upper end of a lever arm 268 mount ed beside arm 266 on shaft |92. The extra length of arm 266 enables link 261 to clear arm 263 without interference. Lever arm 268 is of greater length than lever arm 266 so that equal movement of the two will cause equal angular oscillation of arms 263 and 26d.'

The cam 269 shown in Figure 17, is the same as cam |96, Figure 1, and since it is of a width and shape to engage simultaneously and for the same period the lever arms 266a and 268a, the operation of the auxiliary knitting cams will be the same' as before described. However, with a cam such as is shown 210 in Figures 14 and 13 arranged on the drum for coaction with the lever arms, lever arm 26811 will pass off `into the cut-out Zilla while lever arm 266a is still riding on cam portion 21012. Shaft will thus be rocked to withdraw the knitting cams at the second auxiliary station, although those at the first station will still remain for a period in active position.

When the knitting cams at the second station are thus withdrawn, it is, of course, necessary that the sinker cam at that station be concomitantly withdrawn and the yarn feed interrupted For this reason the drum cam associated with push rod 45 is shorter than the onefassociated with push rod 246 so that push rod 45 will lower as the knitting cams at the second station are withdrawn. Arm 83 will immediately be lifted by its spring 83 releasing the bar 23| so that the latter may be lifted by its associated spring to raise finger 231 out of feeding position, plunger 250 simultaneously rising under the influence of its associated spring and thereby lifting sinker cam 26|. out of the range of the sinker butts.

; Push rod 266, however, is still held up and knitting continues at the flrst auxiliary station. The cam 9|! is enough longer than the cam associated with push rod E so that the yarn feeding finger and sinker cam'at the first auxiliary station will be held downwardly as long as lever arm 266:1 is on cam portion 21612.

It may be assumed that at the moment arm k 266:1. drops into the cut-out 210a and the yarn feeding nger and sinker cam at the'second station simultaneously elevated, a splicing yarn is being introduced, or is about to be introduced, in the well-known manner at the main station for a high splice heel. Since the first auxiliary station knits a. course on top of the spliced course and since no splicing yarn is introduced at the auxiliary station, a plain course will exist between the courses in which the splicing yarn is introduced at the main station. The resultant fabric is as indicated in Figure 19, reference character :x: designating the yarn fed at the first auxiliary station, m that fed at the main station and s the splicing yarn. When the high splice heel has been completed in this manner, arm 265er and push rod 246 drop and the knitting of the heel pocket is begun. The auxiliary clamp and cutter act as before.

By supplying a suitable cam for push rod 266 and a cam of the width of portion 2101) for leven arm 26611, the rst auxiliary station may be thrown in at the commencement of the knitting of the foot and a reinforced foot fabric the same as that shown in Figure 19 may be produced, the second auxiliary station remaining inactive. In Figure 14, however, I have shown the same cams 9| and |95 as in Figure 1, so that both auxiliary stations are thrown in concomitantly while the foot is being knit. During this period a splicing yarn may be fed at the main station, but in this case will appear only in every third course, as will be understood.

I wish to repeat that while the invention has been described with reference to a rotary cylinder stocking knitting machine of particular type, it is not limited in its application to this particular type of machine nor to the tubular article to be knit. In view of permissible changes in the form and arrangement of parts, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited except as in the following claims.

I claim:

l. The combination with a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder with groups of needles having butts of different length, and a main knitting station with yarn feeding means and knitting cam mechanisms, of la plurality of auxiliary knitting stations spaced apart and from said main knitting station circumferentially of said cylinder, yarn feeding mechanisms at said auxiliary stations respectively, needle lifting and lowering cams at each of said auxiliary stations, means for imparting simultaneous movement to said lifting and lowering cams at the auxiliary stations from a normally retracted position and to ward said cylinder acr'oss the line of the needle butts, said movement comprising an initial step wherein said lifting and lowering cams are approached to a position close to the ends of the shorter needle butts so that the butts of the longer butt needles may engage the lifting cams, said movement comprising a final step wherein the lifting and lowering cams are approached to a position close to the cylinder so as to be engaged by the shorter needle butts when the latter come around, means for simultaneously operatingl the yarn feeding means at the auxiliary stations, said auxiliary stations when active being adapted to knit a corresponding number of courses in addition to the course knit at the main station, said lifting andlowering cams being returnable to inactive position subsequent to a knitting opera- 'Y tion, and means for slightly withdrawing said lifting cams out of the range of some of the butts while the lowering cams remain in position close to the cylinder.

2. The combination with a circular hosiery knitting machine having a needle cylinder and a main knitting station with yarn feeding means and knitting cam mechanisms, of a plurality of auxiliary knitting stations with yarn feeding means and knitting cam mechanisms at each of the same, means for concomitantly throwing in or out the feeding means and cam mechanisms at all the auxiliary stations, and means for throwing 1n or out said means and mechanisms at one 75 of the auxiliary stations independently of those at another auxiliary station.

3. rIhe combination with a circular hosiery knitting machine having a needle cylinder, a sinlrer ring, and a main knitting station with yarn feeding means, imitting cam mechanisms, and. a sinker cam, of a plurality of auxiliary knitting stations each having yarn feeding means', knitting cam mechanisms and a sinirer cam; means for concomitantly throwing in or out the :feeding means, the cam mechanisms and the Sinkel: Cain at all the auxiliary stations; and means for throwing in or out said feeding means, knitting cam mechanisms and sinlrer earn at one o the auniiiary sta act/ansa tions independently of tiiose at another auxiliary station.

4. The combination with a circular hosiery irnit ting machine having a needle cylinder and a niain knitting station with main yarn feeding means, yarn feeding means :for a splicing yarn, and knitting cam mechanisms, oi a plurality of auxiliary knitting stations each having yarn feeding means and knitting cam mechanisms, means for rendering all the auxiliary stations active during leg knitting, and means for rendering all except one amriliary station inactive during iced. ci the splicing yarn at the main station.

EDWARU E. 

